Poinsettia plant named ‘BKPONRR’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named ‘BKPONRR’, characterized by its broadly upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; large and full inflorescences with bright red-colored flower bracts; excellent post-production longevity; and relative tolerance to high temperatures.

Botanical designation: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKPONRR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKPONRR’.

The new Poinsettia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform and freely-branching Poinsettia plants with good postproduction longevity and high temperature tolerance.

The new Poinsettia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in January, 2012 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 2000086, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 2000018, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Poinsettia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in November, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since March, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Poinsettia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Poinsettia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKPONRR’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKPONRR’ as a new and distinct Poinsettia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Large and full inflorescences with bright red-colored flower         bracts.     -   6. Excellent post-production longevity.     -   7. Relatively tolerant to high temperatures.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia are more upright than and not as         broad as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia have thicker and stronger         lateral branches than plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Poinsettia have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   4. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are smoother         than flower bracts of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia are more upright than and not as         broad as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia have lighter green-colored         leaves than plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Poinsettia and the male parent selection         differ in flower bract color as flower bracts of the male parent         selection are light red in color.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘Floasatur’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,230. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of ‘Floasatur’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Floasatur’.     -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia flower earlier than plants of         ‘Floasatur’.     -   3. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are more rugose         than flower bracts of ‘Floasatur’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Poinsettia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Poinsettia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKPONRR’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKPONRR’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the autumn and winter in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Poinsettia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 18° C. and night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 16° C. Plants were pinched one time and were 22 weeks old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘BKPONRR’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Euphorbia             pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 2000086, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Euphorbia             pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 2000018, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About 18 days at             temperatures about 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days             at temperatures about 17° C. to 19° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days             at temperatures about 17° C. to 19° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright and uniformly             mounded plant habit; inverted triangle with rounded crown;             large full inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane;             moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 22.6             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 27.6             cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 49.8 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit, about five lateral branches develop after             pinching. Length: About 20.1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Internode length: About 1.1 cm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Angle: About 40° from vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy. Color, when developing: Close to 146D.             Color, developed: Close to 146A slightly tinged with close             to 178A and 178B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 12.5 cm. Width: About 8.4 cm. Shape: Ovate to roughly             deltoid. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire;             slightly to moderately undulate; occasionally with a single             shallow to medium lobe on either side, sinuses divergent.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Slightly rugose, glabrous; lamina matte and             venation glossy. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface:             Close to between NN137A and 139A. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Close to between N189A and 202A; venation, close to             176A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to between             N138A and 139A; venation, close to 176B. Petioles: Length:             About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             183A. Color, lower surface: Close to 183B to 183C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Large full inflorescences are             compound corymbs of cyathia with bright red-colored flower             bracts subtending the cyathia; one inflorescence per lateral             branch with inflorescences positioned above and beyond the             foliar plane and face mostly upright to slightly outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower naturally during the             late autumn into the winter under long nyctoperiod             conditions; inflorescence initiation and development can be             induced under artificial long nyctoperiod conditions; early             flowering habit, response time is about seven weeks.         -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production             longevity; plants of the new Poinsettia maintain good             substance and bract color for about three weeks; flower             bracts not persistent.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 28.2 cm.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 8.9 cm.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 15 to 20.             Length: About 13.4 cm. Width: About 9 cm. Shape: Ovate.             Apex: Apiculate. Base: Broadly acute to obtuse. Margin:             Entire to slightly repand. Aspect: Mostly horizontal to             slightly upright. Venation: Pinnate. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Slightly rugose, glabrous; matte.             Color: Developing bracts, upper surface: Close to N45B to             N45C. Developing bracts, lower surface: Close to 46C. Fully             expanded bracts, upper surface: Close to N45B; venation,             close to N45B; color does not fade with development. Fully             expanded bracts, lower surface: Close to 46C to 46D;             venation, close to 46C to 46D; color does not fade with             development. Bract petioles: Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter:             About 2.5 mm. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             53A. Color, lower surface: Close to 53B         -   Cyathia.—Quantity per corymb: About 9 to 16. Length: About             1.1 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster,             inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color,             developing, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 144A; towards             the apex, close to 144C; bracteoles, close to 45A. Color,             fully developed, inner surface: Close to 144B; bracteoles,             close to 45B. Color, fully developed, outer surface: Close             to 144B to 144C; bracteoles, close to 45B. Nectaries:             Quantity per cyathium: Typically two. Length: About 1.5 mm.             Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Flattened. Texture and             luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color, developing, inner surface: Close to 144C. Color,             developing, outer surface: Close to 144C to 144D. Color,             fully developed, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 3A and             7A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm to             3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Erect to about             40° from vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color: Close to 144A to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per cyathium:             About 20. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close             to 46A. Anther shape: Club-shaped. Anther length: About             1 mm. Anther color: Close to 183A to 183B. Amount of pollen:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 14A. Pistils: Pistil             development has not been observed on plants of the new             Poinsettia to date. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit             production has not been observed on plants of the new             Poinsettia to date. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Poinsettia     have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Poinsettia plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have been     observed to tolerate high temperature about 35° C. to 40° C. and to     be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named ‘BKPONRR’ as illustrated and described. 